This work examines the cohesion of Raymond Aron's political thought and argues that its unifying principles are to be found in certain intellectual problems he came upon early in life through his study of German thought. These problems consist of the relation between man and history, knowledge and action, and philosophy and politics. They are explored in three intertwined facets of Aron's thought - History, Sociology, and Praxeology - which are elaborated by setting Aron in dialogue with three key German thinkers: Dilthey, Marx, and Weber respectively. This work argues that the roots of Aron's political thought reach back to the 1930s and that his ongoing meditation on the philosophical problems raised at that time endure and provide the framework for his thought for the rest of his life.

Cicero, Politics, and the 21st Century addresses the West's current crisis of confidence. Reflecting on how the famed Roman philosopher-statesmen Marcus Tullius Cicero thought and acted in a time of great turbulence in the ancient world, this book offers lessons to 21st century students of politics and statesmen alike. Cicero's example shows that the survival of liberal democracy requires us to recover a sense of nobility in politics - a balance of power, honour, and justice with the pursuit of truth for the common good. Cicero, Politics, and the 21st Century brings the reader into the dirty politics of the late Roman Republic and tells how Cicero rose to the top in this environment. He managed to work with people who were often diametrically opposed to him, juggling different power blocks and interest groups, while trying to implement reforms, all at a time when the state apparatus and public consensus holding the Republic together were breaking down. Cicero was able to attain power, all the while maintaining his integrity and advancing the interests of his people. Additionally, Cicero and his time bring much needed perspective to our political thinking by enabling us to examine events through a prism of assumptions different from those we have inherited from the turmoil of the 20th century.